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Cabbagetown’s quirky homes

Seven lovingly restored or renovated Cabbagetown homes on view for one day only.

The home of Tony Redmond and Steve Noble includes a renovated bathroom that has a vanity with his and his bathroom sinks, three small skylights, along with new mirrors and fixtures. (SUPPLIED PHOTO)

The home of Tony Redmond and Steve Noble, which was formerly a B&B, includes a gleaming oak staircase. (SUPPLIED PHOTO)

The home of Tony Redmond and Steve Noble, located at 2 Aberdeen Ave. in Cabbagetown, includes a red living room with an original coal-burning fireplace and stained glass windows, (SUPPLIED PHOTO)

By Donna LaporteStaff Reporter

Fri., Sept. 17, 2010

When Tony Redmond and Steve Noble moved into the house at 2 Aberdeen Ave. last summer, they found it had its share of quirks.

The electricity would go off in the back of the house, but would mysteriously go back on if the dryer was turned on.

Were there ghosts in the Cabbagetown home, which was built in 1880? No, just some do-it-yourself repairs by a succession of owners over the years. As well, several lights had no switches; bulbs were turned on and off by hand.

To rectify the situation, they hired an electrician to repair the short causing the outage and installed proper switches.

Redmond, one of 10 siblings born in St. John’s, Nfld., is used to making do, so he proceeds with house repairs as necessary. Electrical and plumbing issues take precedence over cosmetic makeovers.

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“Immediate plans become plans for the future,” he says.

A house has its own personality, he says, quirks and all — just as the mix of good and bad make his close-knit Cabbagetown community what it is and reminds him of home. (Heck, the street even has its own residents association: the Aberdeen Avenue Residents’ Group.)

He loves discovering the house’s “hidden treasures,” like the strong door hinges which anchor the large, wide doors to the living room.

He’s grown accustomed to the rich red walls in the living/dining rooms, which definitely aren’t the couple’s style, he admits. They intended to repaint, but once fall came, they found the colour had grown on them.

“It’s a beautiful fall and winter colour, says Redmond, 46.

The three-bedroom, four-bathroom house was previously run as a B&B, so much of the work had been done before. Now, as a private home with a self-contained apartment below grade, it’s “just a B,” Redmond jokes.

All the better to house visiting family or rent out to other short-term tourists.

Situated on the corner of Aberdeen Ave. and Ontario St., the house has a gorgeous oak staircase, three fireplaces, original stained glass windows and mock Victorian chandeliers, as well as a retro intercom system, likely from the 1970s.

At about 3,000 square feet, plus the approximately 890-square-foot apartment below, there’s plenty of room for the two resident cats — Betty and Charlie — and a roommate from Newfoundland who moved with them from their previous digs at 248 Gerrard St.

(Despite its size, the home’s lack of original storage space will amuse condo dwellers.)

Discover it for yourself on the 32nd Cabbagetown Tour of Homes on Sunday, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Seven homes will be on display for this self-guided tour, which was established to raise awareness of the neighbourhood and support various community initiatives, including the Burn Unit of (the now-defunct) Wellesley Hospital, to erect street signs, replace stained glass windows at the Toronto Dance Theatre and many other projects.

The tour celebrates the continued restoration of Victorian homes by urban professionals who co-exist cheek by jowl with artists, musicians and down-on-their luck neighbourhood characters.

Helen Coltrinari, of the Cabbagetown Preservation Association, says the not-for-profit group took over organizing the event about seven years ago.

It raises upwards of $25,000 per year, she estimates. None of the homeowners gets paid, she adds.

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased through PayPal or at various local businesses.

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